The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-05-14
SHOT OF AN ORANCEMAN.
4 True Story Which Had Its Begin
ming in the County Longford Over
Sixty Years Ago.

Sixty Years Ago.
HOW POOR KITTY M0LlAHAN
Tested the Love Of a Man Who Belonged
to Society That Vas Always the
Enemy Of Her Country,
You're making me heart ache
And you re making me head ache, y
"Now dtnt be so unmerciful "
Now don't be SO unreasonable.
Sure know that you're hattered by
his attentions"
"And sure know that you're g mis-
taken: omadhaun" And the peal OF
laughter which accompanied the words
was irresistible. The love lorn swain
to whom they had been addressed was
obliged to yield, and he laughed in
unison with the merry being by his side.
She was lnsome enough to Justify
the ardent affection of her companion,
but her pretended coquet1y with other
swains who no more could help admir-
ing and loving than he could, drove him
sometimes to desperation, and those
moods Of his, pretty Kitty Mo!lahan,
with the wi,fulness Of her sex. enjoyed.
She loved to see the great fellow fold
his arms anu gather his brows into a
knotty frown, and compress his lips;
until it seemed to be going too far, and
taen she delighted in coaxing him out Of
it all--one touch Of her brown, and not
over small, hand. and one smile of her
pretty red, pouting lips was enough to
do it. Ned Brady was her slave again.
All this was sixty years ago, in a.
part of Ireland where hoarished Lord
Farnsham, who was better than lords
usually are, and Kitty Mollahan and
Ned Brady were the children Of neigh
boring farmers. From infancy they had
been companions, and tile whole parish
Of Temple Michael looked upon them as
one day to be man and wife. Ned,
however, much as he desired such con-
s1n1nation, could not be at all sure OF
it.
Kitty was so pretty, and so much ad-
mired, and had so many suitors, and at
times seemed to give SO much encour
agement to the others. that he felt fire.
quently in despair OF ever getting her
hand.
Then she would not engage herself to
him, averring always that she was too
young, being only seventeen, and that
at the age OF twenty she would consider
the matter.
Ned was forced TO acquiesce; and
were it not that the attentions of one
handsome fellow in he town seemed to
be very acceptable to Kitty, he might
not have been entirely dissatisfied. Ned
himself could have taken the palm for
manly beauty. but then he imagined
that James Mulrennen WAS much hand
somer, and had that sort Of dashing
grace about him which is SO apt TO go to
wnmen's hearts.
There was one fact, however, which
never failed to comfort him. Mulren-
men was an Orangemen, but when he
attempted to lay much scornful stress
upon that to Kitty. she replied with q
sly laugh:
perhaps I'm trying to convert him. "
So, upon this day, sixty summers ago,
the conversation with which this tale
opens, occurred between the pair, and
had reference to Mulrennen. As usual.
Miss Molahan had worked up her lover
to All undesirable pitch Of moodiness,
but 10y her last remark and her laughter
she had won him to himself, and now
with both her hands holding one OF his,
she said. very roguishly:
Its the bad state you're in, Ned,
when you can't bear to let q little girl
like me have bit of diversion; sure it's
only amusing meself I am with James
Mulrennen, and if he had half an eye,
or if he understood women at all, he'd
asily see that same;
assIt may be diversion for you, Kitty,
but it's heartbreak to me and then
this fellow Mulrennen is boasting that
he can have your hand any day Orange
man though he is, he's such good friends
with your father, you know"
She dropped the hand she held, and
redeemed with Indignation.
s'Boastiug, is he?" she repeated. I'D
like to know who gave him lave to do
that?"
~ ourself, Kitty, when you'd dauce
with him the way you did at the fair,
and when you receive him so kindly as
you do at the house.
my father likes him, y she said, for
he has nice way with him somehow
to the old man, and it wouldn't do at all
if l wasn't civil.
But there's more, Kitty; something
that / wasn't going to tell you until I'd
prove it to be a liehe stopped sud
denly, and looked down at her with a
sad reproac chfulness which went to her
heart.